A friend of mine, who’s a sports coach, recently reached out with a concern. He needed guidance on his coaching contract and wanted to make sure every clause worked in his favour.
With salary, performance clauses, and future opportunities at stake, he knew hiring a legal professional was the smart move. He asked if I knew a reliable sports law lawyer in London.
I didn’t at first, but fortunately, I had my Wunderlust London team to help. After asking around and researching, we found firms specialising in sports law.
If you ever find yourself in the same spot, here’s a list of London sports lawyers who can help negotiate contracts and finalise sponsorships.
How much do sports law lawyers charge in London?
A sports law lawyer typically charges from £200 to £600 per hour, depending on the solicitor’s experience. Some firms offer fixed pricing for other services like contract review. Other fees to consider include VAT.
How we chose the best sports lawyers in London
- Experience: We picked law firms with years of experience in sports law, particularly those that handled leagues, athletes, and coaches.
- Services Offered: We prefer sports law lawyers who offer a range of services like contract negotiation, sponsorship and image rights, and even injury claims.
- Pricing: We prioritised law firms with transparent and reasonable fees, be it for one-time contract reviews or ongoing legal support.
- Customer Service: We focused on firms with clear communication, timely responses, and an approachable style that will make you feel you’re supported throughout.
1. Kingsley Napley LLP
Address: 20 Bonhill St
Contact Details: +442078141200
Operating Hours: Monday – Sunday: Open 24 Hours
Kingsley Napley LLP is a long-standing law firm with over 80 years of experience, which really impressed us when we started looking into them.
We appreciate that they’re a full-service and internationally recognised law firm. It’s very convenient when you need help in different areas, since you don’t have to search elsewhere.
We also like that they cater to various sports. They handle motor racing, football, and hockey, and a lot more.
In fact, they’ve already advised an internationally famous motor racing driver regarding their media rights. They also finalised a contract for a prominent international footballer.
The team structure feels practical too. Instead of limiting a case to one solicitor, they can bring together lawyers from various practice areas when needed.
We find that approach useful because it gives a case the right mix of expertise rather than relying on one person alone.
The main trade-off is cost. A few clients mentioned high retainers, around £5000 in certain cases.
Very helpful and professional
“James A. was very helpful, professional and quick to respond to my queries regarding a new business proposal and the legalities surrounding that. You can tell he knows his stuff, and I’d highly recommend him and Kingsley Napley. Thank you.”
– Mr. Mark, Google Review
Prompt and professional
“Thank you to the kind and friendly male receptionist and Marieta for taking the time to help me today, when I didn’t have an appointment.
Prompt, professional service. Marieta kindly took the time out of her busy schedule to help me. I really appreciate it and would highly recommend Kingsley Napley’s services.”
– Ms. Zola, Google Review
2. Simons Muirhead Burton
Address: 87-91 Newman St
Contact Details: +442032062700
Operating Hours: Monday – Friday: 8:30 AM – 6:30 PM
Simons Murihead Burton is a West End firm founded in 1971. They started a small firm in Soho and are now a full-service law firm handling various cases. Their humble start and persistent journey reflect their commitment to growth and their clients.
Sports is one of the firm’s fastest-growing practice areas. The team’s lawyers came from different practice areas like tech, IP, and corporate.
This is reasonable because athletes and coaches need to deal with contracts, sponsorship, and brand protection.
Some of their previous cases include regulatory investigations of an FA Premier League football club, corporate advice regarding a new sports agency, and police dealings.
Clients also love the firm’s office, noting it’s spacious. They also warmly accept guests, offering free coffee, bottled water, and fresh fruits.
We do think their communication can be improved, though. A client shared that the firm is a bit aggressive in sending correspondence to people.
Great assistance
“I was a client of this firm, and Mr. Jonathan Hunter assisted me. I would like to express my gratitude to him and the team. I recommend them every time.”
– Mr. Alistair Green, Google Review
Fast and helpful
“They were really fast, helpful and professional even though I wasn’t a client and only needed documents certifying.”
– Ms. Hannah Cline, Google Review
3. Lawrence Stephens
Address: 50 Farringdon Rd
Contact Details: +442079368888
Operating Hours: Monday – Friday: 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Lawrence Stephens is a full-service law firm providing legal advice and support to individuals and businesses. They accept clients from various industries, from blockchain to real estate and sports.
Their sports practice stands out to us. Their previous clients include WSL players, Premier League players, and former world boxing champions, which tells us they’re trusted by serious athletes.
We also learned that as of July 2024, they’ve been appointed to the Sports Resolutions Pro Bono Service. To us, that signals commitment to helping athletes and individuals with limited financial means by giving pro bono legal advice.
Clients also praise the firm’s excellent communication. They said that their solicitors are responsive to emails and calls, which made the whole legal process less stressful.
The only thing to note about this firm is that they charge higher fees. A client said that he was charged £600 for a consultation and was surprised by it.
Very good experience
“I have had a very good experience dealing with Lawrence Stephens. I hope to be able to use their services again soon. The case did take longer than expected to complete; however, well well-handled by the team, and the delay was out of anyone’s control. That is pretty much what you want from professionals.”
– Mr. Ali Butt, Google Review
Highly recommended
“We highly recommend Emma Clifford and David Seal from LS. They are fantastic solicitors who have handled a bunch of transactions for us. Super easy to work with, always quick to respond, and they really know their stuff. If you need solid legal help, they’re the ones to go to!”
– Mr. Harvard Taylor, Google Review
4. Onside Law
Address: 642A King’s Rd
Contact Details: +442073846920
Operating Hours: Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Onside Law is a well-known firm handling various sectors, like digital, ticketing, and sports.
Unlike any other firms, we like that they have specialist expertise. For instance, clients in broadcasting, marketing, or even the esports niche can rely on their legal support. There are only a few that cater to such a combination of industries (especially tech).
Aside from that, we’re also impressed that they’re not limited to London. They have three other international offices in Sydney, Melbourne, and Switzerland. This proves that they’re also trusted globally, allowing them to assist clients with cross-border concerns.
Clients also highlight the team’s efficiency and expert counsel, especially on time-sensitive and difficult cases.
They also have a pretty solid workforce composed of partners, senior associates, and solicitors. However, we did notice that the London office feels smaller than some other firms.
Pricing isn’t listed upfront, which we understand for complex sports cases. It can slow down budgeting if you’re trying to plan quickly, though.
Exceptional service
“We were introduced recently to Onside Law on a recommendation due to a particularly time-sensitive and difficult case. We found the service to be exceptional, effective and expert counsel that made all the difference in the result. I would highly recommend.”
– Mr. Dan Baxter, Google Review
Wise counsel
“I have used Onside Law for the last decade, ever since I started to build my own businesses. They are total pros. I would not consider doing anything outside of my comfort zone without their wise counsel.”
– Mr. Rory Heron, Google Review
5. Farrer & Co
Address: 66 Lincoln’s Inn Fields
Contact Details: +442033757000, [email protected]
Operating Hours: Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Farrer & Co is a prestigious law firm based in London serving individuals, businesses, and not-for-profit organisations. But what really caught our attention is how confidently they operate in sports law.
Their solicitors show strong technical knowledge about sports. They give clear and practical advice on straightforward and complex issues.
They’ve advised the PGA European Tour on its negotiation regarding an operational joint venture and the NFL on its NFL Academy. These cases made us believe that the firm is trusted with sensitive, high-profile sporting issues, including international clients.
We also love that they have a dedicated key contact person for every sector. For sports, they have Tom Bruce. This is good news since we want a more personalised legal service from someone who really knows sports.
However, just a heads up: some clients noted poor communication from the team. A client said that he waited for someone to call him back, but no one reached out.
Excellent service
“I had an excellent experience with his company. James Nieto was my barrister in the case. Highly recommend,”
– Ms. Deborah Hoult, Google Review
Patient and proactive
“Kate Chatters and Jenna Whistler were both great to work with. Patient and very proactive!”
– Mr. Percy Lendrum, Google Review
